Cornflower Witch

Chapter 2 The Sleeping Past
What is my name?
Hirutiya
This was clearly not her name from her past life, but after waking up this time, some vague memories told the girl that her name was now Siltia.

Is there really such a thing as reincarnation? She had no memory of her past life when she was born, and only now does she suddenly recall it. As a side effect of some accident, she lost her memories of the previous years of this life, and only has some vague fragments.

Looking at her clothes, the plain white dress didn't seem complicated, but certain details, such as the cuffs and hem, were particularly exquisite, as if reminding her that it wasn't cheap. And looking at her palms, their smooth and delicate appearance didn't seem like she had ever done manual labor.

She thought her background was probably not bad. If she could find her family and relatives in this life, she could probably live a life without worrying about food and clothing. The girl pondered the origin of her body.

Although I don't know what my personality is like in this life, from some vague fragments of memory and my inner feelings, it seems that it is not much different from my previous life. There is nothing strange or uncomfortable, just like the same person.

As she rummaged through her hazy memories for information, a sudden realization dawned on her, and some kind of information appeared in her mind.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Name: Hiltiya ※※※※

Race: Human (※※※)
Status: Healthy (no abnormalities)

talent:

Star [Unknown Level]: You are blessed by the stars. You are not a native of this place, but an alien being who descended to earth. Strangely, you have been accepted by this world and become a part of it. Cherish this gift, for its meaning is far beyond your imagination.

Cornflower's Affection [Rare, Upgradeable]: Grants enhanced effects when using any cornflower-related arcane arts and artifacts. A talent flowing in one's bloodline, a legacy from one's family, granting each successor the blessing of a particular flower.

—Those who glimpse the fairy lord, the celestial keeper of spring, 'Fennec,' will have their bloodline descendants receive a preordained blessing according to an ancient covenant.

Fate Card: [Sleeping Girl] (Gender Rank: None)

A strange card appeared in Hilti's consciousness. The card was bordered by silver metal vines. In the center of the card, a silver-haired girl lay asleep with her eyes closed in a sea of ​​blooming light blue cornflowers. The sky in the distance was dark, with occasional shooting stars streaking across the sky and disappearing as if they had never existed.

The Sleeping Girl

'You have lost the sexual power you once possessed. Judging from the silver vine frame, this power may be related to 'Radiant Moon' or 'Emerald Honey.' Your past memories are deeply dormant. If you wish to awaken that dormant past, please begin with 'Radiant Moon' and 'Emerald Honey.''

effect:

[Discrimination Eye Lv.2]: Due to a special talent and physique, you can distinguish colors that ordinary people cannot perceive, as well as parts of the essence of things. (This ability will also improve when you upgrade your Destiny Card.)
;

Ability Cards: [Empty Slot] [Empty Slot] [Empty Slot]

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

In the center of the destiny chart outlined by invisible threads, the card with the silver wisteria border, "Sleeping Girl," is placed. Below this card, there are three empty slots, which should be able to hold other cards.

One [Destiny Card] representing oneself, three empty [Ability Cards]. This world possesses strange and extraordinary powers, and these powers seem to be intertwined with the individual according to a certain card format. If one learns special secrets and skills, one can transform them into ability cards and place them into the destiny chart of the soul and consciousness to exert their effects.

As she walked step by step toward the village at the foot of the hill, Hirutiya saw a fiery red sunset in the distance and quickened her pace, afraid that she would not make it before dark.

Her snow-white hair fluttered, her clothes billowed, and the village, though seemingly close, was actually quite far away. By the time Hiltiya arrived, it was almost dark. Fortunately, the village wasn't as quiet and peaceful as usual. Several carriages were parked in the village square, around a central bonfire. The back doors of the carriages were open, displaying some of the goods that had been brought in, and many villagers were gathered around them.

"The price has gone up again, van der Hey."

"These clothes look rather ugly. Did someone else not want them and you bought them at a low price to sell here?" The villagers were gossiping, and the girl could clearly hear their voices.

The language was vastly different from her previous life, but she could understand it naturally, probably because she had learned it in this life.

Under the cover of night, the girl walked along the road toward the village square, thinking about how to tell others about her origins and find a simple job to settle down here.

She realized she didn't have any money on her. As she walked, the girl touched her clothes again, but unfortunately, apart from the pretty plain white dress and underwear, she had nothing else.

No, there's something else. She reached behind her head and touched the hair ribbon tied in her hair.

Untying her headband, her hair, which had been standing up, fell to the side of her neck. Hiltiya took a light blue silk headband, on which was printed with beautiful cornflower patterns in overlapping silk threads, showcasing the exquisite craftsmanship.

The girl had the item she was trading for, but... she touched her cheek. Although she didn't know exactly what her body looked like now, judging from her vague memories and the feel of it, it should be very beautiful.

Being too beautiful but powerless is actually quite dangerous, because you have something that others covet, but no strength to protect it.

Thinking of this, she slowed her pace and began to consider how to deal with the situation. If it were a big city, the security would be much better, but this was a small village, and she had no way of knowing what the local customs were like. However, she really didn't have a better choice at the moment. If she stayed out overnight, she might encounter other difficult situations. Going to a crowded place would always be better, and she could also get some checks and balances from the public.

After a moment of contemplation, she resumed her pace and headed towards the brightly lit area.

“There’s nothing I can do, old man Pound. This trip hasn’t been easy for me either. You know, it’s the Wolf Festival now, and there are a lot of dangerous wild animals on the road. I have to spend more money to hire people to protect the caravan. We can’t travel at night either. You see, we’re late this time. If it were any other time, why would I give up this opportunity to make money? Don’t you think so?” The bearded merchant folded his hands in his sleeves and told the village chief about the current situation.

"Alright, alright, I've heard your excuses countless times. You always have a reason for making money." The old village chief waved his hand, indicating that he didn't care about the other party's costs.

"Oh, by the way, did you bring the nails I ordered last time?"

"I brought it, but it's quite heavy, so I put it under the carriage. It'll probably take until tomorrow to get it out. What, are you in a hurry to use it?"

"There's no rush. I bought the nails to reinforce the house. In two or three years, it will be the storm season, and it will be too late to fix it then."

"You're already preparing for something that's two years away; you're really thinking ahead."

"Everything goes up in price during the peak season, so I'm just trying to save a little money in advance," the village chief replied casually, shaking his head.

"The wind is howling, the fog is thick, I wonder if my body can hold out until the next trade wind season."

"Yes, you are in such good health that you will definitely see the dawn of the next trade wind season."

"Haha, then I'll have to live for another twenty years or so."

……

More noise reached the girl's ears. In this life, she had a hearing far superior to that of her previous life. Even if ten people were speaking at the same time, she could easily distinguish them, understand and remember them all at the same time.

Such an ability is truly terrifying. In her previous life, she could probably have gotten into the university she dreamed of.

From the conversations between the villagers and merchants, Hiltiya learned a lot of information. The caravan was a merchant caravan traveling through the village, and the merchant in charge was a local regular. The atmosphere seemed quite harmonious, which eased her worries a little.

As the girl approached the burning orange bonfire, she gradually came into view until she stepped into the boundary between the firelight and shadow, where she was suddenly revealed.

The snow-white silk dress was not something ordinary people could afford, especially since it had to be so pure white. Even nobles would only wear it on certain formal occasions. When Hilti entered the village square, she immediately attracted the attention of many people.

"Excuse me, who...who are you?" When a member of the caravan saw her face clearly, he quickly changed his words to polite language.

To be able to come and go so leisurely, dressed in luxurious clothes, and with such a beautiful face, she must be a noble lady, or even the daughter of a prestigious noble family.

The caravan's entourage hurriedly reported to Van der Hee, who turned around, bid farewell to the village chief, and walked quickly toward the silver-haired girl in the white dress.

"Hello, esteemed lady, is there anything I can help you with?" He tried to imitate the manners he had used before when greeting the young woman.

The slightly comical and clumsy movements made the girl want to laugh, but she politely held it back and returned the greeting by lightly lifting her skirt, as if it were some kind of instinct. "Hello." Her clear voice was like a mountain stream, gentle and melodious, causing everyone present to pause for a few seconds.

The girl paused slightly, also surprised by the sound of her voice.

"Hello, may I ask where this is?" she asked again, lightly touching her cheek with her fingers and tucking a few strands of hair behind her ear to ease her tension.

"This is..." The businessman, Van der Hee, was also surprised that someone would ask such a question. He hesitated for a few seconds before turning around.

"We are now in the southern part of the Duchy of Regas, in the village of Lindenwood."

The Duchy of Legas… The girl tried to recall, but felt no sense of familiarity. It seemed she had never been to this place in this life. If that was the case, the only way for her to regain her identity was to improve her relevant gender rank to restore her memories. Otherwise, this aimless wandering would hardly yield any results.

Seeing the girl lost in thought and silent, the people in front of her became a little nervous, wondering what she had done wrong. Fortunately, the village chief heard about the situation and slowly walked over.

When the village chief Pang De came to the girl, this change brought her back to her senses. Her eyes flickered, and she met the old man's gaze.

His eyes were a pure, light blue, like cornflower petals, as if they had never been tainted. This kind of temperament surprised even the well-traveled village chief, who had been an adventurer in his youth and had been to many places.

"Miss, are you lost?" he asked cautiously, probably sensing the problem the young woman was facing.

"Yes, I had an accident and got lost in the forest not far from here. I need some help right now." The girl bowed politely again.

"I see." Upon hearing this, the village chief Pang De and the merchant Fan Dexi exchanged a glance, their minds at ease.

This noble lady seemed quite easy to get along with; her temper was much better than the spoiled brats they usually encountered in Jiaoshi City.

This is a world with extraordinary power, and nobles possess abundant resources, knowledge, and skills, as well as strength that commoners cannot match. Therefore, ordinary people generally fear conflict with nobles unless they have no other choice.

"Since that's the case, how about I arrange accommodations for you tonight, Miss? I don't even know your name yet?" the village chief offered.

“My name is… Tia, thank you for your help.” Out of a sense of caution, the girl only said the abbreviation of her name.

“No problem, Miss Tia.” The village chief stroked his beard and replied with a smile. In his eyes, this girl was the kind of simple girl who stayed in the manor or castle for a long time and rarely went out. She was also one of the easiest people to get along with.

Even minor nobles couldn't cultivate such an air; she's probably the daughter of a powerful noble family. If you could build a good relationship with her, there would be some benefits. After all, even a small thing that a powerful noble might slip through their fingers is a treasure that a commoner could never obtain in a lifetime.

As their conversation gradually came to an end, many villagers and caravan members quietly gathered around. Although they didn't get too close, the focus of their gazes made Hilti feel somewhat uncomfortable. It wasn't that she was afraid, but rather that her personality, both in this life and her previous life, made her less adept at social interactions, and she preferred to stay quietly by herself.

Fortunately, this situation was soon broken. A girl who looked to be about the same height as Hilti ran over at the village chief's call. She had reddish-brown hair, which was haphazardly braided at the back of her head. She wore a flaxen short shirt, was rather thin and sallow, and her exposed calves had a slight sheen. The straw sandals she wore were very tight and durable.

“Taliel, take this young lady to your home, tidy up the room your sister used to live in, change the bedding, and let her spend the night there.”

"I understand, Grandpa," Taliel replied casually, but her gaze never left Hiltya's face, as if she wanted to see and recognize her clearly.

"Come with me."

She reached out and grabbed Hilti's wrist, leading her through the crowd and into the village.

This action startled the village chief and the merchant, Van der Hee, but they were too late to stop her. Fortunately, Hiltiya simply followed along and did not show any displeasure, so the two of them wiped away their cold sweat and breathed a sigh of relief.

"It's all my fault. This child has been too wild and I haven't taught her properly." The village chief thought that he usually spent all his energy in the village, and the only person he paid attention to was his sister, Tariel, who had just gotten married.

Compared to the wild and stubborn Taliel, her sister Winnie was much more virtuous and composed, and was well-liked, which led her to marry into a good family in the city.

Walking through the crowd, Hilti lowered her head slightly to avoid curious gazes, feeling the hand holding her wrist. Taliel was about the same height as her, and there were some rough marks on the inside of her fingers, probably from a recent cut that had scabbed over and left hardened skin.

Even though it was their first meeting, Hiltiya guessed that the other person was the kind of girl who liked to travel and have fun.

Just as Hiltiya was wondering what kind of living environment this place would be, a series of rapid hoofbeats came from afar. She couldn't help but turn around and see a line of cavalrymen carrying torches speeding along the road in the night.

Holding the reins, their bodies rose and fell with the galloping of their horses, their expressions anxious. As they approached the village entrance, they almost without stopping to leap over the low fence. Several cavalrymen even crashed through the fence before they could even jump.

As the wind blew, the dry wood snapped in half, making a cracking sound, and then the cavalry, carrying torches, charged straight into the square.

"Everyone, prepare for defense!"

A harsh roar exploded across the square, and before many villagers could even know what was happening, they heard another horrified scream.

"Wolves! It's wolves!"

In the darkness outside the village, chilling wailing sounds drew ever closer. Nothing could be seen in the pitch black, but the constant rustling noises indicated that a group of living creatures were approaching.

At this moment, some villagers finally reacted. Some rushed home to find weapons, while some women hurriedly searched for their children and brought them back to their houses. The caravan members also became tense. They drew their short swords and axes, and some even set up their spears, preparing to deal with the unknown danger.

A dozen seconds later, a group of running, blurry silhouettes appeared outside the village, but what was even more striking were their pairs of oily green eyes.

Wolves, a pack of wolves, about forty wolves rushed out of the night. The lead wolf leaped over the fence that offered no resistance, and only then did the others see the wolf's face clearly by the light of the fire.

It has a thick, orange-red coat with long hair that sways slightly like flames. Even on all fours, it is taller than a person and larger than a common cow. When you get close, a scorching aura spreads, and its narrow eyes reveal ferocity. An invisible sense of oppression immediately intimidates everyone present.

Gazing at the massive, fiery waves flowing across the plaza, a flood of information rushed through Hilti's mind.

---

Race: Timber Wolf (Mutated)
Status: Healthy (Fierce)
talent:

Sense of Smell [Good Level]: A keen sense of smell, capable of distinguishing and tracking various creatures. A common talent among wolves.
Fate Card: [Crimson Wolf] (Tier 1 - Blazing Sun)

Bathed in the blazing sun's rays, the wolves roaming the mountains and forests gradually turn a fiery orange-red. When they complete their transformation, they enter the first stage of the extraordinary state of "blazing sun," transcending the realm of wild beasts and becoming fanged beasts feared by ordinary people.

effect:

【Boiling Blood Lv.2】: The sexual energy of 'Blazing Sun' flows in the blood, giving the creature powerful vitality, allowing it to run day and night without fatigue, while also slightly strengthening its physique and enhancing its strength and speed.

Ability Cards:
【Fangs Lv.2】(Beast Fangs): Possesses sharp teeth far exceeding those of wild beasts, capable of tearing through some metal, and spontaneously sharpening and repairing itself. (Most beastly creatures possess three types of abilities: teeth, horns, and claws, stemming from the 'beastly fang' instinct flowing in their blood.)
---

So that's how it is. After understanding the information, the girl realized why these cavalrymen could never shake off the wolf pack. With the blessing of the 'Blazing Sun' attribute, these wolves had become exceptionally stamina-enhancing, making them impossible for ordinary people and animals to shake off. If they couldn't defeat them, they would simply be run to death.

Thinking of this, she couldn't help but feel a sense of relief. If she had chosen to run away during the day, she would probably have been caught up by the wolf due to exhaustion and become its meal.

"Come on!"

While Hilti was still observing and thinking, Taliel beside her eagerly pulled her towards the houses inside the village, where there were several stone buildings that could be used for defense. Many villagers were also running towards that direction. At the same time, the battle in the square also began.

"A steel-sharp blade!"

An invisible light flowed into the drawn broadsword, and then the blade slashed at the giant wolf's gaping fangs and bloody maw, sending sparks and blood flying.

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(End of this chapter)